The Weekly News, Part 2

Designed by:  Anna Messer, Bradley Elementary

1) CORE CURRICULUM OBJECTIVE:  Plan oral presentations by: determining appropriate content for type of presentation and for audience; organizing content sequentially or around major ideas; summarizing main points before or after presentation; incorporating visual aids to support presentation. (5-SK-7)

      GRADE LEVEL: Five      SUBJECT:  Reading (Speaking)

2) OVERVIEW: Students will use the articles that they wrote in The Weekly News, Part 1 to plan, record, and produce a school-wide news broadcast.  When completed, the students will then "air" the news through the network of TV's in their school.  It is a wonderful way to improve writing, reading, and speaking skills. 

3) FOCUS/ESSENTIAL QUESTION(S): Are newspapers the only way that we find out about things that are happening in our community?  How can we use technology to inform the other students in our school about events that are taking place?

4) TIME FRAME: three, fifty minute class periods

5) RESOURCES/MATERIALS:

TEACHER = video camera, blank tape for video camera, digital camera, Averkey connection, floppy disks, computer/monitor, TV, microphone, and VCR.

STUDENTS = news articles (previously written in Part 1), poster board, crayons, markers, rulers, scissors, construction paper, glue, and tape.

6) CULMINATING ASSESSMENT: Each student or group of students will present a final, written plan for the airing of their news article.  In order to be considered complete, the plan must include the following criteria: type of presentation (visual only, oral only, visual and oral, etc.);  major ideas of article that will be presented;  how the main points will be summarized for the target audience;  complete listing of visual aids that will be used (may include digital photos, power point, posters, puppets, etc.);  and finally, group member or individual who will conduct the presentation for the recorded broadcast.  This may be used as an informal assessment, or point values of 20 pts. each may be assigned to the 5 criteria listed above to total 100 points.  This is entirely up to you, since The Weekly News, Part 1 does contain a formal assessment.

7) INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES:

A.) Introduce the lesson by leading the class into a discussion based on the focus questions listed above.  Make a list on the board of student ideas and suggestions.  State the goal of recording and airing a news broadcast based on the articles they have previously written. Give students time to respond to the idea by sharing their thoughts and suggestions.

B.) Pass out the articles and have the students assemble into the groups that they worked with on the articles.  Explain to them that the first thing they need to do is create a plan for presenting their article on the air. Discuss the criteria listed in the culminating assessment and give them adequate time to work on their final plan.

C.) After you have approved each group's plan, pass out the necessary materials to help them create their visual aids for the broadcast.  If they will be using a digital camera, computer program, power point, averkey connection, or any other technological device, remember to review the proper procedures for using such items (Note: They should already have experience in using these items.  This lesson is not intended to teach them how to use the different forms of technology listed above.)  Give each group time to collect material (photos, etc.) and work on their visual aids.  These should be completed prior to the recording phase.

D.) Return to whole-class format, and have the students decide: what order to tape the articles, who will be the two main anchorpersons for the broadcast (they will be the ones to introduce each news item, before turning it over to each reporter), and finally, who will be in charge of displaying the visual aids during each report.  If you decide to continue broadcasting the news in your school throughout the year, the jobs listed above can be rotated so that every student has a chance to participate.

E.) Run through a practice broadcast to make sure everything runs smoothly (reports, computer programs or TV connections if used, other visual aids.)    If the are any problems, work with the class and brainstorm ways to fix them.

F.) Reorganize the materials for each report and set up the classroom for the actual taping. Record the broadcast using the school's video camera.  After the recording is completed, rewind the tape and have the class review the broadcast.  If there are problems, go back and re-tape the necessary parts.  If everything turns out okay, choose a time to air it over your school's network of TV's. 

G.) On the day of the broadcast, have your school's secretary announce it so that the whole school can watch.